Extension-step.



No. 894,088. v PATENTED JULY 21, 1908. E. v. WELLS.

EXTENSION STEP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.10. 1907.

anczufoz E 7212770 & We ZZS,

Wihwooeo .wzz y 1,

EMMA v. WELLS, or DECATUR, MISSISSIPPI.

- EXTENSION-STEP.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filed December 10. 1907. Serial No. 405,923.

To ollwhorn it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMA V. WELLS, a

citizenof the United States, residing at De catur, in the county of Newton and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Extension-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to extension steps for cars and the like, the object of the invention being to provide in connection with the ordmary car steps, an extension step and means for quickly and reliably adjusting said step or moving the same to its folded from its operative position and vice versa, while at the same time providing for the sufficient support of such extension step at a plurality of points thus insuring durability.

With the above and other'objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated andv In the accompanying, drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of theusual car steps, show ing the improved extension step and operating me'chanism therefor applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same showing the extension step folded. Fig. 3 isan underneath perspective view of thesteips, showing the extension step extended. ig. 4 is a detail section through one of the guiding supports and showing the relation of one of the rame bars thereto.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a car platform,-2 the side frame pieces of the ordinary car steps now in use, 3 the car steps and 4 the usual risers.

The extension step is indicated at 5 and is hingedly connected at its inner edge as shown at 6 to a riser 7 which is connected at its outer or upper edge by hinges as shown at 8 to the outer edge of the lowermost rigid or.

stationary car step ,3 whereby when the extension step 5 is'moved downward to its erative position, the riser 7 is simultaneous y moved to its customary verticalposition. The extension step is secured to and supported by the lower outbent extremities 9 of the oppositely arranged side bars 10 of a sliding frame. which comprises inaddition to the side bars 10, a plurality of cross bars 11, 12 and 13, thus making a rigid rectangular sliding frame by which the extension step 5 is carried.

The side bars 10 of the sliding and support- -,i ng frame are preferably composed of angle iron as illustrated in Fig. 4 and at suitable,

points, said side bars slide through a plurality of guides 14 secured to the rear of the steps and preferably to the angles thereof between the steps and the risers, the guides 14 being provided with flanges 15 which are secured by suitable fastenings to the steps in the manner best shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the guides 14 are located at such'points as to form supports for the cross bars 11 and 13 when the Supporting frame is in its lowermost position, four separate and independent supports thus being provided for the supporting frame.

The mechanism for sliding the extension step up and down consists of a lever 16 which is connected at one end to a fulcrum block 17 fastened to the steps at one side, the opposite end of said lever being slotted as shown at 18 and having connected thereto a hand rod 19 which asses through the platform 1 and is rovi ed at its lower end with a'pin 20 which travels in the slot 18 as the lever 16 ismoved from the full line position shown in Fig. 3 to the dotted line position. shown in the same figure.

21 designates a link which is pivotally connectedat its lower end to one of the cross bars of the supporting frame and pivotally connected at its op osite end to an intermediate point of the ever 16. The hand rod 19 is provided at its upper end with a stop handle 22 or in other Words, a handle which, when the extension step is fully lowered, it comes in contact with the platform 1 or an escutcheon plate 23 secured thereto and through which the rod 19 passes, whereby the rod 19 is prevented'from further downward movement and acts to support the lever 16 and the link 21, the latter acting as an auxiliary su ort for the sliding frame which is'thus upheld at a number of points each of which contributes to the durability of the device as a whole.

:24 designates'a hook on the rail of the car adapted to engage the handle 22 or an eye or ring 25 carrie by the handle to sustain the extension step in its folded position. To extend the step it is only nec'lessary to release the handle 22 from the hook 24 whereupon the step will slide downward into the proper position for use.

. Havin thus fully described the invention, whatis o aimed as new is 1. An extension step for cars and the like, comprising a sliding frame embodying parallei oars, supporting guides through which said bars slide, cross bars connecting the side bars and adapted to rest on the supporting guides, an extension step carried by said side oars, an operating lever fuic'rumed at one end, a link connecting said sliding frame with the latter, and an operating hand rod connected to the free end of said lever.

2. An extension step for cars and the like,

comprising a sliding frame, guides for said.

frame, an extension step carried by said frame, a lever for operating the shdlng frame,

swipes a link connecting said lever with the sliding frame, and a rhd connected with said lever and pro'i' ided .With a stop handle which 15 limits the movement of the lever in one di- EMMA V. WELLS.

Witnesses:

M. J TATUM,

I. P. -QUATTLEBAUM. 

